Accelerated B.S. in Family and Human Services/M.S. in Child Life, Admin and Family Collaboration
Students in the Department of Family Studies Introduction to Child Life Track may, in their junior year, apply for admission to the B.S. to M.S. Program. This program allows students to complete accelerated undergraduate and graduate degrees in 5 years. Students accepted into the program begin graduate course work during their senior year. Nine units taken at the 500/600 level after completion of the junior year will be double-counted toward the B.S. and M.S. A bachelor's degree will be awarded to the B.S. to M.S. program students after all degree requirements for the bachelor's are met. Students who do not complete the bachelor's portion of the track or who do not maintain a 3.00 GPA may not proceed to the M.S. level unless deficiencies are resolved. Students must earn a "B" or better in the double-counted courses.
This program is open only to undergraduates pursuing the Introduction to Child Life Track in the Department of Family Studies and Community Development.
Undergraduate Admission Requirements
- Completion of or current enrollment in 60 units (may include transfer units).
- Declaration of a Family and Human Services Major in the Introduction to Child Life Track.
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.00 by the end of the spring term preceding screening for admission.
- Completion of the following courses with a grade of B or better:
Course List Code Title Units FMST 240 INTRODUCTION TO CHILD LIFE 3 FMST 301 FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS 3 FMST 302 FAMILY THEORIES 3 PSYC 101 INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY 3 PSYC 203 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 3 Statistics Course 3-4
Application Process
Applicants must submit the following documents in one packet postmarked by January 15:
- Admission application provided by the department.
- Admission essay following the guidelines provided by the department.
- Completion of a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer work or paid work experience in a child life department under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist. Additional hours are highly desirable.
- Official transcripts that include course work taken through the spring term preceding application to the program.
- During the second term of the senior year, student must also complete a graduate application with the Admissions Office to be officially admitted to the graduate program.
Screening
Screening will occur immediately after January 15 for applicants who have complete files.
The department’s admissions committee will evaluate all completed applications based upon GPA, personal essay, and volunteer work. The top applicants will be selected for interviews. Offers will be made to the top candidates for admission.
Degree Requirements
Please see the B.S. requirements listed under the Major in Family and Human Services. 9 units of graduate work taken at the 500/600 level after completion of the junior year will be double counted toward fulfilling the 120 units required for the B.S. and the 40 units required for the M.S.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| FMST 540 | THE HOSPITALIZED CHILD AND FAMILY (in place of FMST 340) | 3 |
| FMST 601 | APPLIED FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS (in place of PSYC 205) | 3 |
| FMST 615 | APPLIED RESEARCH METHODS IN FAMILY SCIENCE (in place of FMST 360) | 3 |
| Total Units | 9 | |
Please see the M.S. requirements in the Graduate Catalog.